Reel



`IOct. 29, 1929.

T. `BIRKENMAIER REEL Filed Aug. 9. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet i Oct. 29, 1929. T. BIRKENMAI'R REEL Filed Aug. 9, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fum, RJ

Oct. 29, 1929. T. BIRKENMAIER REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 9, 1926 muy,

Patented Oct.yk 29, 1929 iilvi'ifsof`srariaifs` PAT ENT orifice THEODOREKBIRKENMAIER, or sr, LOUIS, MISSOURI, AssIeNOR'rO w. uMArTHEws i CORPORATION, or sT. LOUIS, MissoURI, A CORPORATION OFy MISSOURI REEL , Application filed vAugust 9, 1926.k Serial No. 128,084.

This invention relates to reelsand with regard to certain more specific features to port-` reel upon which various sizes of rolls or coilsr may befwound; the provisionof a reel which may be retained in a given position without rotative movementof ythe ywinding element; the provision of a' reel` which permits of a complete quick acting brake control ofthe adjustable winding element; the provision of a reel which canbe conveniently controlled from one fixed position of the Operator, and the provisionyof a reel of the classdescribed which can be economically and ruggedly built. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, feaL tures of construction'and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the struc-y ture hereinafterdescribed and the scope of the application of which willbe'indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in 'which4 possible emis illustrated oney of the various bodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the reel Fig. E2 is an enlarged section ytaken on line 2-2ofFig.1;` ,l

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing they brake setting means and the brake-disc locking means.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary detail showing the quick acting brake controllingdevice in brake set position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail showing means for holding the brake-disc lock in a 'fixed position. f

' Similar reference characters indicate corresponding views of the drawings. y f

n Referring nov7 moreparticularly tokFig. l of the drawings, there is illustrated' at'iiumeral 1 a preferably sheet metal plateor disc having ar turned down edge r3 for stiifening i purposes and holes 4 for lightening purposes. The disc 1 is bolted to a. norinally'rotatable hub 5r by means o f bolts 7 (Fig. 2). Thefhubj 5 is-rotatably borneon a shaft 9. This shaft 9 is also rotatably held in a bearing 11 of a brace plate 13and is kprevented from leaving the bearingby anend washer and bolt combi nation 12. yThe plate 13 is made fast to a pre'ff erably Wooden center bar 15 thev ends of `which are fixed toy cross members or 'end bars 53 which in turn are themselveslfastened to side bars or carrier members 17v parallel to the center bar 15 above' mentioned. Angle braces 18 (Fig. 3) hold the end bars 53 rigidly to the side bars 17. Thebars 17 have handles 19 formed thereon. t c

Ther shaft 9 is held integral'with abearing casting 21-by afpin'23. There may orinay not be relative yrotary motion between ythe bearing casting 21 and the 'hub 5, depending upon circumstances to be described. An easily replaceable friction washer 22 separates. the lower bearing surface of the bearing casting 21 and the upper horizontal bearing surface of the bearing 11 formed with the brace yplate 13, rtaking the majoiypart yof the wear upon these surfaces. y y

'Bolted to the bottom of the' casting 21 is a parts throughout y the `several i brake drum or bell 25 which rotates with said casting. The drum is inverted with respect to the brace piece 13. f Held to said brace 13 (Within the drum25) is a brake shoe 27 (Figs. 2 and 3). Theret-aining bolt 29 forthe shoe" passes loosely7 through a notch 31 of the shoe,

whereby the shoe is permitted to spring to va-4 rious positions in the conventional manner The cam 33 is positioned within a slotted portion 37 of said shoe. Conventional springs 39 continually hold the two legs 41 of the shoe 27 against the cam 33 and out of contact with the drum 25 when the brake is in release position.

The cam 33 is rotatably held in said bearing 35 by means of .theV stem 43, to the outer or lower end of which stem is fastened an arm 45. An equalizing spring 51 connects the arm 45 with a brake rod 49 which rod slidably passes through one of the end bars 53 which join the runners 17. The brake rod 49 also slidably passes through a bracket 52 and the bifurcated cam end'48 of a brake lever 50. The end 48 is pivoted to the bracket 52. rlhe end of the brake rod 49 is threaded to take a hand wheel 55, which when turned on said threaded portion increases or decreases the effective length of rod 49 thereby decreasing or increasing the tension of spring 51 to the desired amount for any position of the brake lever 50. Although the brake may be set or released by use of the hand wheel 55, a much quicker means is provided in the brake lever 50, Vwhich by turning in the proper direction about the pivot pin 54 of bracket 52 exerts a cam action on the inner surface of the hand wheel 55 thereby forcing it outwardly away from the bracket 52 and thus setting the brake (Fig. 4). Reverse; movement causes the wheel 55 to move inwardly toward bracket 52 under the influence of the brake release springs 39, thereby releasing the brake (F ig. 3). The spring 51 permits of practically a constant pressure of the shoe 27 on the drum 25, although the drum may be somewhat eccentric or out of perfect alignment with said shoe. The advantage of this will appear hereinafter.

The hub 5 is adapted to be pinned to the casting 21 at certain times and adapted to rotate freely with respect theretoV at other times. To accomplish this end, an extended portion of the hub casting 5 is provided with a plurality of holes 57 each adapted to receive a pin 59 which is slidably borne in the casting 21. The pin 59 is an integral part of the brake-and-disc lock casting 60, which is slidably and rotatably mounted on the said bearing extension 11 of the brace plate 13. A projecting cam 36 on a lock rod 63 normally engages the casting 60 to hold pin 59 in engagement with one of the holes 57. A spring 61 lowers the brake and disc lock casting GO so that its pin 59 is withdrawn from any of the engaging holes 57 when the support of the projecting cam 36 is removed by tur'ing a lock lever 65 niade'fast to the end of rod 63. Hence the lock rod 63 when turned Vthrough an angle of substantiallyy ninety delug 66 (on the lock lever 65) in engaging the proper depression between the proj ections 62 on a lever looking plate 64. A spring 67 acting on the lock rod 63 through a washer 68 and pin 68a, always retains the lock lever 65 in contact with the locking plate 64 and also limits the horizontal movement of the lock rod 63. Hence, the hub 5 and its attendant parts such as the disc 1, may at will be locked to or released from the braking system by movement of the lock lever 65 through an arc of substantially ninety degrees. This can be done by an operator standing in one position at the lever 65. It should be noted that the cam 36 is always in engagement with the lower surface of the member 60 and does not slip from under it when the lever 65 is manipulated longitudinally. Y

In order to facilitate the formation of' a coil on the disc 1, the following collapsible spool is provided:

ln each of preferably five slots 69 is slidably held a webbed portion 71 ofa spool finger 73. Each webbed portion is provided at its outer end with pairs of wheels 75 and 77 adapted to ride respectively above and below theredges of its respective slot 69 (Fig. 2). The wheels of said pairs 75 and 77 are separated vertically a distance slightly greater than the thickness of plate l. At its inner end each web 71 is provided with pairs of wheels 79 and 81 above and below said edges of the slot respectively. These pairs of wheels 79 and 31 are separated a distance much greater than the thickness of said plate 1 for purposes to be made clear. It should be noted that four wheels are placed on each side of the web 71 so that the web is symmetrically held. Furthermore, when the lower pairs of wheels 77 and 81 are both substantially in a horizontal position with respect to one another, then the body of the finger 73 is vertical. In this position the upper, inner pair of wheels 79 do not engage said plate 1.

rhe body portion of each finger 73 has formed outwardly from the toprthereof an upwardly sloping' arm 83 adapted to prevent a coil of wire on the fingers 73 from slipping endwise from vsaid fingers during a winding process.

After a coil of material has been wound,

vit may be removed from the fingers 73 by throwing them inwardly to their dotted-line positions indicated in 2. .The rea ward upper pair of rollers 79 is such a distance away from the plate 1, that before striking said plate 1, the outer ends of the arms S3 may be brought into alignment or within the limits of the position of the lower ends of the fingers 73 during the winding operation. Hence a vcoil of wound wire or the like will readily cle-ar the arms 83 upon removal from ythe plate 1.

fingers 73 so that various diametered coil may be wound on Athe device.

1n order to adjustablyfposition the klingers 7 3 angularly and radially,eachfof said tin gers which is T-shaped in section, has an ear 85 provided on the stom of said T-shape. A pin 86 is formed through said ear and sidewardly engages slottedportions 870i an adjusting bar 89. Therearepreferably ive adusting bars, one'for each inger73. Each bar comprises a flat member in which is formed an opening 91. On oneside of the openings 91 are formed teeth 93 adapted to engage teeth 95 formed at the upper end of the shaft 9. Upon such engagement between said teeth 93 and 95, the other side ot' the opening 91 is adapted to be tangentially arranged with respect to the ends ott the teeth 95.

It may be seen that the teeth 95 in substance comprise a pinion. The bars 89 are each arranged in a separate plane and are vertically juxtapositioned at the gear teeth or pinion 95. Said teeth 95 are or' a length adapted to engage at once all'sets o'tl the rack teeth 93 of the five members 89. All the members 89 yare made alike and the slotted portions 87 are of such length that any ot the pins 86 may be accommodated in motion, regardless or" which of the tive elevations any pins ref spective member 89 is placed. Hence all the tingers 73 and adjusting members 89 may be made exactly alike and from a single pattern. Above the gear teeth 95, the shaft 9 is integrally provided with squared or other olvffonal means 97 ornon-rotatabl but re- P e a .Y

movably receiving a crank arm 99 for purposes ot' turning the shaft 9. The assembled spool now comprises the plate or disc 1, its hub 5, and the adjustable lingers 73.

In order to brace the disc 1 against weavingk as a reeling operation is performed, rollers 101 are provided on the under side of dise 1 im,- f

mediately above a circular track 103 which is supported on the frame members 53 and 17. The track is fastened'to said `iframe members by the track #fastening lugs 105. c

Operation of the reels is as follows, assuming it to be without wire or the like thereon, and in collapsed position (see dotted lines Fig. 2) f` First, the lock lever 65 is turned to permit relative motion between the member 21 and the hub 5, that is, the cam 36 is caused to lay fiat thereby permitting the pin 59 to lower. The brake is released and a handle or crank 99 applied to the shaft 9. By turning the shaft from the crank 99 and lightly holding the disc 1 with the hand, foot or otherwise, the adjusting bars may be set for any desired diameter of coil within the limits of the dimensions of the slots 69. If this adjustment is being made outwardly, then the lingers 73 will automatically assume a vertical position. If the adjustment is .being 'v made inwardly, then after adjustment for operation the shaft 9 rotates ywithrespect to the hub 5 and disc 1. i f j Next, to reel/a cable or the like the lock lever' 65is turned so as to cause engagement ofthe pin 59 in a hole 57, whereby the hub `5 and member 21 are locked together. Therey is then no relative motion between the hub f 5 and the membery 21. The brake is kept in c a released position however, so that the shaft 9 mayrotate in the bearing 11 of the brace 13. c kNow, if a cable or the like isapplied to the outside of the lingers 73 at the base thereof,

'preferably atthe disc l, then movement of the crank 99 will result in winding of the cable ontheoutside ofthe lfingers 7 3 as on a spool. No relative motion is had between the disc 1 and the shaft 9, so that the teeth 95 and the adjusting bars 89 are notoperable to adjust. Winding takesplace preferably from apoint near the disc 1 up to the armsk 83 .andy thereafter-'back and forth as on any winding spool. The rst coils woundnear the basesof the ylingers 73hold said lingers substantially at the right angle or at any other pre-designed position with yrespect to disc The exact positioning depends upon the relative positioning yof the lower sets of wheels 77 and v81, [which are in thefpresent embodiment aligned horizontallyy with respect to'A the vertical body portions of iingers7 3. j Q n If, while winding a coil as described, it is desirable to'temporarily stop, then'the brake may be set tight, whence tension in the cable will not cause undesirable unwinding. n*

If under certain circumstances, after par-y j tial or complete winding, it is desirable to again payout wirefrom the reel,then the brake may be held to any intermediate position betweenfotl and on bymeans of the breaklever 50. A pull on the wire will then y f is provided inasmuch as the equalizing spring 51 insures afsubstantially constant pre-deter-y minedbrake set. Any of various tensions may be maintained in the unreeling wire by properly adjusting the brake.; If substantial` ly no tension is desired, saidbrake may be released entirely and the wirey unkwound.

During the unwinding operation the crank f 99 mayor may not be removed, as desired, althoughit is preferable to do so. n y f Finally,after a coil of cable has been completed (large or small), the brake is again released, the lock lever turned to again permit relative motion between the hub 5 and the member 21 and the crank 99 turned while the disc lfis lightly held as before. The turn ing ofthe crank 99 is now done in such a direction as to draw the adjusting bars 89 inwardly. The fingers 73 will have a tend-y ency to be drawn inwardly and collapse to their dotted-line position shown in Fig. 2. rEhe collapse will be certain when the webs 71 touchV the inner ends of their slots 69, as the only remaining possible movement of the lingers is aboutvthe pins of the wheel sets 75 and 77 as pivots. It is evident that-the slotted portions 87 permit complete movement of the pins 86.

fter the collapse of the fingers, the coil of wire may readily be removed vertically as it will readilyv clear the arms 83.

it is to be understood that the reel may be fuily operated inthe horizontal positions thereof indicated in the drawings, or that the side frames 17 may be positioned substan tially vertically (say leaning against some object) wiereby cranking is easily accomplished. ln fact the r ,el may be employed andfoperatedfin any position into which it may be put. y

End movementv of the handle or crank 99 resilient-ly resisted by a spring pressed round-nosed detentflOT adapted to engage a depression in the polygonal upper end of the shaft 9. 'Hence the handle may be readily applied or removed but will not drop off of K rotatably borne therein, means'for braking the shaft, a rotatable yspool mechanism mounted on the shaft and rotatable with re-r spect thereto, and means for collapsing said spool mechanism when relative rotation Ybetween it and said shaft is had, and means for locking the spool mechanism with the shaft, compi singa locking member adapted to be moved from a remote control to locking and unlocking positions, said control being operable from a predetermined stationary point with respect to said framework.

2. A reel comprising a framework, a shaft rotatably borne therein, means for braking the shaft controlled from a point stationary with respect to said frame, a rotatable spool mechanism mounted on the shaft and rotatable with respect ing Vsaid spool mechanism and repositioning it for windi g when relative rotation be.- tween it and said Lshaft is had, and means thereto, means for collaps- Y 

